Tonight's game

Auction is still going for ThinkCure…KABC’s bid is quickly growing and ours is somewhat stagnant right now. The latest thing to add is that you’ll get a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take home – your name in the Dodgers’ Daily Media Notes. Who knows, it might get read on the air, too.

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It’s a few days after the dramatic Andre Ethier Walk off homerun and Juan Pierre receives a cold reception from his best friend, Dontrelle Willis.

Mark Sweeney reveals that he saw Gary Bennett and Ned Colletti meeting together at a General Nutrition Center on Sunset Boulevard, before Gary mysteriously went on the DL. Then Juan decides to take Andruw Jones and Prince Fielder to The Cut, Wolfgang Puck’s modern, elegant steakhouse located at the Beverly Wilshire, only to find to his chagrin, that Andre Ethier is the guest chef.

Meanwhile Matt Kemp asks Manny Ramirez for fashion advice, and Jeff Kent realizes that he may gain something by allowing a local reporter into his inner circle

Joe: They say we’re old and we can’t see
Anything good about walks or OBP.
Juan: Well I don’t care if all that’s true
‘Cause you got me, and baby I got you
Juan: Babe
Both: I got you babe I got you babe

Joe: They say our love won’t win no games
But I don’t care if we go down in flames.
Juan: I guess that’s so, I don’t care either
as long as I get to start instead of Ethier

Juan: Babe
Both: I got you babe I got you babe

Juan: I got 8….point 8 mil, and I put you…. in my will.
Joe: And when I’m sad, you’re a clown
And if I get scared, you’re always around
Joe: So let them say your hat’s too big
‘Cause I don’t care, let them call me pig
Juan: Then put your little hand in mine
There ain’t no hill or mountain we can’t climb

Juan: Babe
Both: I got you babe I got you babe

Juan: I got you to write my name
Joe: I got you to lead the game
Juan: I got you to pull up my socks
Joe: I got you to take me on walks

Imagine me and Phew, I do
I think about Phew day and night
It’s only right
To think about the Phew I love
And bat him now
At leadoff whenever
If I should lead Phew off
And sit Andre
And Phew says Phew belongs to me
And make my day
Imagine how my world could be
And care what may
So Slappy together
.
I can’t see me loving nobody but Phew
For all my life
When Phew’s with me
Baby the skies will be blue
For all my life
.
Me and Phew
And Phew and me
No matter how Dre hits the ball
It has to be
The only one for me is Phew
And Phew for me
So Slappy together
.
Me and Phew
And Phew and me
No matter how Dre hits the ball
It has to be
The only one for me is Phew
And Phew for me
So Slappy together
.
So Slappy together
How is your mother?
She calls here forever
We’re Slappy together
So Slappy together…

Well we all know you can’t pay Pierre just to sit on the bench.
I think if Bilz keeps the ball away from Holliday, Hawpe & Atkins things could be O.K. And watch out for Iannetta.
Gotta beat this team before they start thinking it’s ’07 all over again.
COM ‘ON DODGERS___YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

Michael Phelps has decided to put his picture on Frosted Flakes, not Wheaties. And, all the nutritionists are up-in-arms thinking it will make our kids fat. It might make them, however, eat their flakes and go swimming!

Intersting, isn’t it ajay? I just wonder if in the future it is left alone or will decide calls on the bases too. If instant replay goes any farther, the umpires will be lax on their jobs, thinking that if they don’t get it right, someone else will fix it.

ajay/TruBlue – I hate the idea of instant replay for baseball. I sure hope it doesn’t go any farther than disputed home run calls. I don’t even think it should be there for that, but if it’s here, well then, let’s keep it ONLY for disputed home run calls…

cpompe1 ~ I’m with you on instant replay. I guess I’m a purist. Bad calls are just part of the game. That’s why I don’t like the American League — hate the DH. They are usually old washed up ballplayers.

My two cents…I’d give Russell the night off, no 3rd base. He’s obviously in a funk. Interesting that Torre didn’t bury him in the press for that first-pitch fly out with the bases loaded.

“Russell looked like he had a plan,” Torre said. “He looked like he was looking to drive the ball to the big part of the field. But the ball must have moved on him or something, because he reached for it at the last second. I don’t want him to go up there taking the first pitch just because they walked the guy in front of him.”

He (Kent) started dusting off his shoulders as if brushing away dandruff, while saying, “bloggers,” spitting out the word like it was some kind of infectious disease. The way things are going in the communications business, incurable might be a better word.

Yeah but some of the old age washup ballplayers can still hit the ball. The DH have to go if they not going to get rid of add the DH to the NL so Pierre and Ethier could still played and moved Pierre to #9.

sl7180 ~ I know some of the DH’s can hit. I just like the idea of the pitcher laying down a bunt to move the runners. I think there is more strategy in the National League. I wouldn’t mind at all if they eliminated the DH altogether. I don’t even like Inter-League play.

Last year Sweeney was ok but having the same number of hits than he had last year as a Doidgers last year with twice as many hit mean he should be retired. I’m still mad that Ned didn’t resigned Marlon again. I really hope Young could be our normal PH but he still hurt. I really hope this is Sweeney last year in a Dodgers uniform. I thought the Padres would really want him so we could had probably bring up Tiffee or Lindsley. Is not like the Las Vegas 51 going to make the playoff being 11.5 games back and in 2nd places

I try not to care that JP is in the lineup, but I do care. I can’t help it. This is really frustrated to see this happen over and over again. I just don’t understand how you can sit Andre over JP for any reason. I don’t c

The October deadline will give the Padres extra time to scout the Dodgers’ minors leaguers, Towers said. The Padres sought two of the Dodgers’ advanced pitching prospects — James McDonald and Scott Elbert — but had to settle for lower-level minor leaguers.

Towers said it was unlikely the Padres could have obtained draft-pick compensation for Maddux by losing him in free agency. One obstacle is the pitcher’s potential retirement; Maddux told friends in spring training that this probably would be his last season.

“Everything we talked about points to him retiring,” Padres ace Jake Peavy said Tuesday.

okay ~ I don’t know why that posted already. Anyhow ~ I don’t care if he bats 3 for 4 (which he won’t). Big deal!! Who’s to say Andre won’t do the same thing,and even if he doesn’t I still rather have his glove in the outfield. For me, this truly is a defensive issue vs. offense. I just don’t understand how you can justify sitting Andre over Pierre based on defense alone. JP is not going to do anything spectacular with the bat that Matt can’t already do so why push the envelope in a possible situation where you are going to have to rely on JP actually having to throw the ball. I just don’t “get it” I suppose..

I had a nice 1.69 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with only having Duchs/Shields. My opponent had a 7.71 ERA 2.14 WHIP with Lidge/Rauch and Street. I hope 1 or even better 2 of his starters combined to do worst than Haren.

General manager Kevin Towers said it was a baseball decision and not an economic one that led the Padres to trade future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

The Padres will pick up part of the $2,345,000 still owed Maddux, 42, on his $10 million contract. But they will be able to select two prospects from a list of five players the Dodgers will make available. The Padres will have until Oct. 15 to pick the players

Kemp has a rbi single, made a bad base running and noe haave an assists. We can bashed Kemp all we wanted about his bases running but he sure can back it up with this arm too bad Pierre couldn’t do that.

Eric, I wanted to let you know I read your post on Joe’s blog and it was great. You expressed the feelings of all of us that support Andre perfectly. I am going to the game tomorrow and he’d better be in the lineup or I am going to be pissed. Like you said, he’s always hit lefties well in the past and he was just in a little slump against them. The only way to work out of one is to play. I think he has about 4 hits recently against left handed relievers.

Torre said center fielder Andruw Jones, on a Minor League rehab assignment with Las Vegas, missed games Tuesday and Wednesday after tweaking his right knee stepping in a hole on the field. The right knee is the one that Jones had surgically repaired during the season. He’s currently on a rehab assignment for patellar tendinitis of his left knee.

juan for four !!! I just don’t “get it” Why is this better than Ethier? I still rather have Andre go 0-4, and have his glove in the outfield. If he were in the outfield, Matt would be in center and things would’ve happened differently in the beginning of the game.

Agreed with you about Matt batting in front of Andre, Trueblue. Except for last night, which was just one of those games that happen from time to time, they were really starting to build up a chemistry together.

Well, we’re sucking again. Stay up till midnite in st louis to witness this sloppy playing and untimely hitting. We’ve lost, I’m going to bed. We’re 2 behind again with time running out. The D’backs are getting better and we’re starting to slip as usual.

Would like to wake up to a win in the morning.
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Good nite guys. I have early morning crossing guard duties and need some sleep.

I have said in the past that I think some of us concentrate too much on line ups but I will be the first to admit that it did not make much sense to move two players out of position just to make the lefty righty thing work, especially when the Dodgers were playing decent defense. Of course this is all hindsight by now but it is hard to ignore all the errors and a run that scored because JP has no arm.

Here’s a good question:
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When was the last time a starter handed the bullpen a lead and the bullpen held the win?
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Or here’s a better one
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When was the last time Broxton had an outing that he wasn’t scored upon?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. One thing is for sure. Dodgers have a manager who has not made one mistake ALL year. At least according to the media. I know Jo Jo didn’t drop any balls or strike out tonight, but when will the L.A. honeymoon with this guy end already?

I think we need Dodgereric to post on Joe’s blog again. Apparently, he did not read the one from today. To not put the best team on the field everday is CRIMINAL!! We had more errors today than runs. We should never lose to a team in our own division that is behind us. The losses to the Giants and now the Rockies could cost us the division.

I don’t even know what to say that hasn’t already been said. I say it all day long – Why in the hell is JP playing over anybody in the outfield right now? There is absolutely no reason for it. He is not a difference maker in a ball game anymore – obviously Torre doesn’t see that or JP’s is really pulling on the heart strings – to take jhall’s word this totally UNACCEPTABLE!!!

I remember Josh’s blog headline from last week: “Seven Big Ones.” At first I thought that was the entire homestand. Then I realized we had three more with the Rockies after that. Strange headline, I thought. I’m afraid the Dodgers were patting themselves on the back for winning 6 of the 7 “big ones.” But someone forgot to tell the Rockies, who are not only division rivals, but defending NL champs. Don’t know if Dodgers let down, but I assume the job of Torre, Bowa, et al, is to make sure things like that don’t happen, especially with the clock winding down.

lbirken ~ I agree with you there has beeen something missing during this series. I am just not sure what it is. All I know is that when the best lineup is not out there, it’s got to affect them as a team in some way.

To win the division, the five Dodger starters have got to be better than Arizona’s. Maddox will throw a great Friday night, win or lose. Easy quiz: What did Maddox do in his first game as a Dodger in 2006? I know you all know.

Good morning. I was planning to stay around and chat last night but, I was so upset over the loss, I had nothing to say. What in the h*** is Joe doing to our team! There is no excuse for him not to put the best team on the field. So what if JP had a better history with Francis (that was in the past). But what bothered me even more is putting players out of position. STUPID! And, this morning Joe says he’ll continue to use Sweeney as his pinch hitter because he is doing better as of late. Is he serious?!! I hate to say this but please let Andruw get better. At least he has a chance to hit the ball out! Sorry for the rant, but I just had to get this out of my system.

Good Morning ITD writers and readers!!!
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Tuesday night’s game was tough loss, last night’s game was just plain given away by our management. Why with so little time left our you playing around with lineups and positions. If Russell needs the day off, then give him the day off, and take a chance on James to bat well against a lefty. Danny did fine behind the plate and batting last night for the most part (he did better than JP, too). The whole JP over Andre thing is just ridiculous at this point, and I feel like a broken record,but you would think right now with practically the whole Dodger world thinking the same thing, somebody would let Torre in on this little piece of information the JP sucks compared to Andre right now. I would even take my chances on Andre stealing a base over JP at this point. Sweeny, Oh my Goodness – what more is there to say other than, Joe – are you really watching the same games we are? Obviously not!!!

I hate to be negative, but its just about time for the D’s to take their annual swan dive. And pin last night’s loss squarely on JoJo The Clown. I can see resting Martin from catching (but then if your resting him, rest him), but Either AND Loney sitting for JP and playing guys out of position… Not playing your best players in a pennant race IMO is not trying to win. Firing JoJo would be my first priority over firing Ned. He’s been ridiculously stupid all year, and you’re paying the guy to get you to the playoffs and beyond, and this is what he gives you – the same idiotic line-ups that look like spring training.

Along with the errors, the game was lost because of JPs inability to even hit one of his famous weak grounders to the right with runners at second and third and one out. You might as well have taken him out after his first hit because that’s ALL he ever gets. The man’s a pathetic excuse of a ballplayer period.

And let’s face it, without Saito the bullpen is in shambles. Park doesn’t like short relief and has said so, but JoJo trots him out there anyway. Brox just doesn’t seem to have the mentality to be a closer. Kuo’s imploding because he doesn’t have that mentality either.

With the bullpen the way it is and JoJo running the show, I don’t forsee good things happening.

Congrats to May/Walsh on winning another gold and keeping there streak alive. To bad we beat JPN twice and they beat us in the final 3-1 to break the Softball 20+ winning streak and denied them 4 straight gold. Dang stink Silver suck for the USA softball team. I think we need Jenny Finch on this team.

Good Morning, enchanted!!
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It’s amazing how the whole Dodger world (with the exception of JP and Sweeney lovers) see the same exact things. I read countless articles,blogs saying the same things, and it’s like living back in April and May – this nonsense should not be happening in August/September. And Saito being out is just so unfortunate right now, but that’s out of Joe’s control, but everything else is under his control, and he is doing a terrible job. Why would you put that lineup out there with Bills pitching. He is the ace right now, and needs the ace lineup out there as well.

Good Morning, trublue!!!
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Yes, I am usually pretty upset when Andre doesn’t play anyway, but then to see the whole lineup screwed with just made it worse.
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I am going to work – catch up on the other side :)

dodgereric ~ Just read the Simers article and it proves to me that Manny is the kind of person I really thought he was, a hard worker and a good person to have in the locker room and on your team. So, saying all that, and knowing how our management is, he will most likely be gone at the end of the season. What a pity!

Mr Torre, if you think The Captain is going to tell you that he’s tired, you are either very naive or completely stupid. Or both. He’s telling you he’s fine because it’s what makes him The Captain. He’s a catcher. It’s a hard job. You should know this. You were one once. You need to rest him regularly during the season and stop being selfish. We all want him in the lineup all the time, too. But I’d rather have his numbers in August and September look a little more like April and May, wouldn’t you?

What happen to the 1999 Sweeney our the 2004 and 05 Sweeney? At least the 1999 Sweeney missed 3 months don’t know if he was hurt for the Reds. Those look like some great PH nunbers for him in a Reds uniform.

You are wasting your time with the fired Torre. Ned should be the ony fired. Didn’t we hate Grady for the same thing and now he’s gone now we hate Torre. I really missed Tracy and didn’t he get fired in his last season with that losing record after 4 good winning seasons. Do you think we can afford having Martin out of the lineup that why he was playing 3rd last night?

About taking days off ~ Tommy Lasorda doesn’t think anyone should have a day off. He said if a player came to him wanting a day off, he’d tell him to rethink his request because he’d take him out of the lineup for more than one day. He feels there is enough off time, that the players should be ready to go everyday. That’s what they are paid to do.

How many PHers hitting .120 do you see in baseball getting regular ABs? You don’t even get that in little league. Yeah Joe he’s hitting the ball better. That’s why he’s gone from .094 ALL THE WAY UP TO .120.

This team was much easier to follow in its mediocrity than it is with the (false?) promise of a pennant race. Its basically the same team, and possibly could even contend, but not with a fool as a manager.

TruBlu, I would agree with Tommy regarding the other 24 guys on the roster, but not the starting catcher. Whether it’s Russell Martin or Paul Lo Duca or Johnny Bench or Roy Campanella. Their job is 10 times more tiring than anyone else’s on the team and if you don’t think so then you’ve never put on the Tools of Ignorance. That’s why I’m so upset with Torre. He knows this.

We all want The Captain behind the plate every night, but we can’t have our cake and eat it too. And enchanted (as usual) is right – playing him at third is NOT resting him. Do you think Russ feels good about his game last night? Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t blame him for anything. That’s the way the Good Lord made him and it’s one of the reasons that we all love to watch him play. But for the good of the team, and for the longevity of his career, he needs to SIT every now and then.

Good Morning Ward Dear!!
Thank you for the information on Russell.
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Good Morning to you too Wally!!! It’s nice to see you on here too. Frustrating seems like an understatement, but it’s the only word that would be appropriate for this board I believe – LOL!!! I see Oberon is still around here this morning. How nice :)

good morning all.
I have been at the last two Dodger homes losses, and both games were heartbreaking, stupid losses!! I hate sitting there, watching rallies, and getting on the board early- just to loose it in the later inningings. I don’t know what’s happening, we seem to just be handing over these ‘easy’ games.
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nice throw by Matt!
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Poor Russy over throwing twice to 1st
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Manny- where’va been?
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Bills looked great too! Too bad he was already to 100 pitches by the 5th inning.

SL – there’s plenty of blame to go around to engulf Ned for sure, after all, he put together the team. But JoJo’s the one making out the line-up cards day after day, randomly I might add. Playing JP over Andre? Not starting the team leader in RBIs? PHing a .120 hitter? Its ludacris. Ned doesn’t (as far as we know) tell JoJo who to play or when to play them. That ALL falls on JoJo. For a guy that’s supposed to have 50 years of baseball acumen, its like you pulled a guy off the street with just rudimentary knowledge of the game and let him have the reins.

dodgereric ~ You are probably right about the catcher. I think by playing Russell at third is much more stressfull for him. My fear is that if he gives Russell the day off, it will be the same day he gives James and Andre the day off too. LOL

Gosh damn did anyone see this blog on yahoo? lol can they do it again? Sweeney was never good in the first place that why the Reds sent him down but they doesn’t explaining the 2004 when he was 34. We can’t really used age as a factor on a player that wasn’t really good.

To be honest we need every games now until they expand roster on Sept 1 then hopefully no more Sweeney but I said that last night when Ethier and Loney was on the bench. I still can’t believe Torre didn’t take Andoin out and put Martin behind the plate, Loney coming in at 1st, moving Blake back to 3rd take Pierre out move Kemp to CF and Ethier take over RF.

Well surely the back to back k’s didn’t make Torre decision easy not to sent in Ethier or Loney. I wonder if would had sent up one of them if we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no out, make you think a little bite. Ethier still getting most of the AB’s this shouldn’t be a problem Ethier vs lhp this year to Pierre lhp and I wonder if Torre looking at the numbers now. How can you explain Torre not playing Ethier vs left handed pitching and Loney missing 2 games all season that I can count on it. Loney is 3 for 4 with 1 homeruns and 6 rbi’s against De LA Rosa a good time for him to break this slump. Loney was 4 for his last 23 before he rested last night and I think they deserved an off day. Loney is batting a miserable .250/.304 /.344 /.648.

Hiya amy! You’re right, it’s great to be at the park. But as bad as the losses are on TV, they seem to be worse when you’re there. It’s a price you pay, I wouldn’t trade it.

We knew that Saito going down was going to be bad, but speaking for myself, I didn’t think it was going to be THIS bad. I keep going back to enchanted’s post. I agree with him on the bullpen. No one seems to be rising to the occasion and fill the “Saito gap”. And it has killed the setup situation. Plus, the infield defense needs to tighten up. Playing people out of position is a luxury we don’t have right now.

And when is the league going to stop running on Kemp? He might be a bit, let’s say – inconsistant – on the bases, but he’s flat-out filthy throwing the ball!

I don’t care about Sweeney and his days are numbers soon and I don’t see him back here. At least let’s be happy he that he not starting and if Grady was still managing than I see Sweeney starting around 3 times and bat him in the clean up spot. Thank god those day are done for now.

NFLPA head Gene Upshaw dies of cancer at age 63
By DAVE GOLDBERG, AP Football Writer
30 minutes ago

Buzz Up Print
Gene UpShaw is seen in an Aug.…

AP – Aug 21, 9:51 am EDT NFL Gallery NEW YORK (AP)—Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who during a quarter century as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. He was 63.

Upshaw died Wednesday night at his home in Lake Tahoe, Calif., of pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed only last Sunday, the NFL Players Association said Thursday. His wife Terri and sons Eugene Jr., Justin and Daniel were by his side.

“Few people in the history of the National Football League have played the game as well as Gene and then had another career in football with so much positive impact on the structure and competitiveness of the entire league as Gene,” former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said.

Current commissioner Roger Goodell offered similar praise.

“Gene Upshaw did everything with great dignity, pride, and conviction,” Goodell said. “He was the rare individual who earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame both for his accomplishments on the field and for his leadership of the players off the field. He fought hard for the players and always kept his focus on what was best for the game. His leadership played a crucial role in taking the NFL and its players to new heights.”

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News of Upshaw’s death first came through a Clear Channel Online report that appeared on several radio Web sites.

Upshaw died only two days after the union announced he would hold a briefing on labor negotiations before the Sept. 4 season opener between Washington and the New York Giants.

His outstanding 15-season playing career was entirely with the Oakland Raiders and included two Super Bowl wins and seven Pro Bowl appearances. Upshaw’s biography was posted on the front page of the Hall of Fame Web site Thursday along with his enshrinement speech from 1987.

In 1983, he became executive director of the players’ association and guided it through the 1987 strike that led to replacement football. By 1989, while the union was pressing in court for a settlement, the league implemented a limited form of freedom, called Plan B. In 1993, when a new contract was finally hammered out, free agency and a salary cap were instituted.

Since then, the players have prospered so much that NFL owners recently opted out of the latest labor contract, which was negotiated two years ago by Upshaw and Tagliabue.

Upshaw was criticized by some for not being tough enough in talks with Tagliabue, a close friend. He also was blamed by many older veterans for not dealing sufficiently with their health concerns.

He never took criticism lightly and often said what he thought—without weighing the consequences from a public relations standpoint. Once, when he came under fire for the problems of retired players from Joe DeLamielleure, also a Hall of Fame guard, Upshaw retorted: “I’d like to break his neck.”

DeLamielleure was one of the first to respond to Upshaw’s death.

“The reality of life for all the guys who played in the NFL, including Gene, is that we have a short life span. It’s just the way it is,” he said. “I have sympathy for his family. I have sympathy for his wife and children. I didn’t know Gene personally. I just knew him professionally.”

Despite the criticism, players prospered under Upshaw.

The salary cap for this season is $116 million and the players are making close to 60 percent of the 32 teams’ total revenues, as specified in the 2006 agreement. In all, the players will be paid $4.5 billion this year, according to owners.

Upshaw recently became more aggressive in his dealings with the owners and Goodell. Owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement, which means a season without a salary cap in 2010. Upshaw declared the cap would disappear for good should there be no new deal by March 2010.

“I’m not going to sell the players on a cap again,” Upshaw said. “Once we go through the cap, why should we agree to it again?”

That was one of the reason’s the owners wanted out, claiming players are getting a disproportionate amount of the revenue. Upshaw’s supporters said management’s viewpoint indicates he did his job well.

Still, the most influential owners respected him.

“Gene and I developed a close friendship that remained strong through the good times and some of the NFL’s most difficult challenges,” said Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney. “We worked very closely on key issues that allowed the NFL to maintain unprecedented labor peace. His biggest asset was his understanding of the business of the game, and you always knew that his concern for the game’s best interests guided his actions.”

NFL officials claimed players are receiving a disproportionate amount of the revenue. Upshaw’s supporters said management’s view indicates he did his job well.

The players called a strike in 1987—leading to games with replacements— and it wasn’t until 1993 that labor peace was reached with a breakthrough seven-year contract. It included free agency and a salary cap. Almost ever since, player salaries have spiraled up along with revenue from television and marketing deals made by the league.

The NFLPA also has its own marketing arm, Players Inc., established in 1994, that has grown into a multimillion dollar operation.

Frequently listed as one of the most powerful men in U.S. sports, Upshaw was drafted in the first round by Oakland in 1967 out of Texas A&I—hardly a football factory. He was an NAIA All-American at center, tackle and end, but was switched to left guard by the Raiders.

And that’s where he stayed through a magnificent career that included 10 conference championship games as well as the Super Bowl victories.

His playing career was summed up Thursday by his close friend Art Shell, who played next to him on Oakland’s offensive line; is also a Hall of Famer and who, in 1989 became the first black coach of the modern era when he took over the Raiders.

“Gene was a true pioneer as one of the few African American leaders of a major union,” Shell said. “He was the equal of owners in negotiations and made the league a better place for all players. Playing alongside of Gene was an honor and a privilege. He was a pillar of strength and leadership for our great Raider teams.”

Hey all its jnv here, I have no idea where this name came from??????
Anyway, I know JOJO the Clown is mostly to blame but what about Noodle arm?? he cost us 2 runs last night with his horrendous play in left field. I wouldn’t even let him start on my sons little league team!!!!
To say this is frustrating is not even close.
Why oh why did O’malley sell the team!!!! I fear the grand ol days of Dodger greatness are gone my friends.

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